Modi writes to Dhoni: People grateful for what you have done for Indian cricket!

BY S VENKAT NARAYAN, Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his retirement on August 15, and wishes since then have continued to pour in for the talisman. Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a heart-warming letter to Dhoni, thanking him for the contribution he made to Indian Cricket.

Sharing the two-page letter from the Prime Minister on Twitter, Dhoni thanked Modi for his kind words and good wishes.

“An Artist, Soldier and Sportsperson what they crave for is appreciation, that their hard work and sacrifice is getting noticed and appreciated by everyone. Thanks PM @narendramodi for your appreciation and good wishes,” Dhoni tweeted.

 Modi said in his letter: “In your trademark unassuming style you shared a video that was enough to become a passionate discussion point for entire nation. 1.30 billion Indians were disappointed but also eternally grateful for all that you have done for Indian cricket.”

“You have been one of the important illustrations of the spirit of new India, where family name does not make young people’s destiny but they make their own names and their own destinies,” wrote the PM.

“Where we come from does not matter as long as we know where we are headed. This is the spirit that you have exuded and inspired many youngsters with,” he said.

Along with highlighting his efforts on the cricket field, Modi also mentioned Dhoni’s legendary love for the armed forces in the letter.

In the lengthy note to the celebrated cricketer, the PM also lauded the calm demeanour with which Dhoni led the Indian team.

“No matter what hairstyle you sported, your calm head remained the same in victory or defeat, which is very important for every youth,” he said. He was referring to different hair cuts that Dhoni made famous after sporting an eye-catching long mane at the beginning of his career.

“Rising from humble beginnings in a small town, you burst onto the national scene, made a name for yourself and most importantly, made India proud,” Modi wrote.

A week ago, the 39-year-old Dhoni brought down the curtain on his almost 16-year-long international career via an Instagram post.

Dhoni retired as India’s most successful limited-overs skipper and remains the only captain to have won all three ICC trophies: 2007 T20 World Cup, 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

Earlier, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also termed Dhoni’s retirement as the end of an era.

“It is the end of an era. What a player he has been for the country and world cricket! His leadership qualities have been something which will be hard to match, especially in the shorter format of the game. His batting in one-day cricket in his early stages made the world stand up and notice his flair and sheer natural brilliance.

 “Every good thing comes to an end and this has been an absolutely brilliant one. He has set the standards for the wicketkeepers to come and make a mark for the country. He will finish with no regrets on the field. An outstanding career. I wish him the best in life,” Ganguly, himself a former Indian skipper, said. 

 However Dhoni will still continue to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the enormously popular Indian Premier League (IPL).